Abstract

Pulmonary infarction is a relatively common condition, but acute cor pulmonale is seldom diagnosed. This may be due to the transient nature of the process, or to confusion with other disease states. The purpose of this report is to present an interesting case of acute cor pulmonale and to draw attention to the confusion in the diagnosis of this condition.1

CASE REPORT

A 22 year old white bricklayer was admitted with chief complaint of severe sharp pain in the left lumbar region of one day's duration. His past history included a duodenal ulcer while in military service in April, 1945.